ATHLETICS-ACTIVITIES DIRECTOR

For Ryan Huff, winning isn’t everything. The new director of athletics and activities at the Bartlesville Public School District is more interested in seeing students succeed in life.

“We have a responsibility each and every day to prepare our kids for the real world and to prepare them for what they’ll be facing after high school,” said Huff, speaking to Monday the Bartlesville Rotary Club. “We want to make sure we can do everything we can to get our students-players ready for the future.”

Teamwork, cooperation, communication and being able to work with others all factor into a student’s success, he emphasized, adding that the purpose of athletics as well as fine arts is to promote the physical, mental, moral, social and emotional well-being of all the individuals.

“Winning is great, and I hope we win state championships across the board this year,” he said. “But what’s even better is whenever that player or student comes back six or seven years later and visits with that coach or director and say what you taught me is paramount to what I’m doing right now.”

Huff’s new role as combined athletics and activities director was one result of a cost-cutting plan adopted by the Bartlesville Board of Education to streamline the district’s administrative positions. The position is designed to provide additional administrative support for activities such as instrumental and vocal music while still providing oversight of the athletics program.

Huff took on his new role in July after having served as the principal at Central Middle School since 2011.

He’s also committed to making sure that the athletics and activities department isn’t “stagnant.” During the summer, he went throughout the community to visit with individuals and businesses in order to reinforce the relationship.

“I want to be visible and want to be able to bring community members together with the athletics and activities department, and it’s a goal of mine to see that happen,” he said.

Helping student athletes constantly improve their performance also is high on Huff’s list of objectives in his new job.

He noted that the district is hiring — without cost to taxpayers — a strength and conditioning coordinator whose goal will be to boost athletic performance and develop training programs for teams and athletes, often working in close association with coaches.

“This position was actually secured by (outside) funds, and it didn’t tap into the general fund of the school district, so it’s not costing the school district a penny,” said Huff.

Virtually all of the schools that compete against Bartlesville High School athletes already have such a resource within their athletics programs, he said.

“We’re instructing and coaching each and every athlete to see the maximum potential come out of each one,” said Huff.